Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik: What is gonzo journalism and what does it mean to you personally?

Kit O’Connell: Hunter S. Thompson, author of “Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas,” and many other books, coined the term “gonzo journalism,” but the practice goes back much further. A great example of an early gonzo journalist is Nelly Bly, who had herself committed to a mental hospital in 1887 to expose the horrific treatment of patients. Ken Kesey is another famous practitioner, though what he practiced was a variation called “New Journalism.”

Gonzo journalism is journalism which rejects the idea of neutrality and objectivity. I consider myself an activist first and a journalist second, even though it’s the journalism that pays my bills and lets me continue my activism. For me, journalism is a way to reveal important truths and try to share the knowledge that we need to build a better, more humane world.

In my interview with Nabila Qureshey, Director of the GEP Project at War Against Rape (WAR) in Karachi, Pakistan. I talked to her about Islamic, women rights, and about how to struggle for a rape free society. Education and awareness campaigns are the main weapon we have at our disposal to reduce and end rape in Muslim societies like Pakistan. We have to change our mentality as society.

Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik: ProMosaik is convinced that Islam is a women-friendly society, and that in Muslim societies we need education to Islamic women rights. What do you think about it?

Nabila Qureshey, WAR: The most common stereotype associated with Islam is that it is a religion that suppresses and oppresses women. With all the bad press Islam gets people have developed the idea that it is somehow a male dominated religion that considers women as only objects and subjects that are under the control of a man.

Islam is a woman friendly religion and was one of the first to give rights to women, which they never had.

ProMosaik believes the struggle for women’s rights begins from the assumption that there is no feminism without involving the whole society. Also, men have to be part of the feminist movement to stop violence of all kind against women, in particular domestic violence.

Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik: What is the main objective of White Ribbon?

Clay Jones, White Ribbon: The main of objective of White Ribbon is to work with boys, young men, and men to end violence against women and girls, promote gender equity, healthy relationships and a new vision of masculinity. We work to examine the root causes of gender-based violence and create a cultural shift that helps bring us to a future without violence.